Combination carrier and insulated food containers

ABSTRACT

The combination carrier and insulated food containers provides a food storage device having a plurality of thermally insulated containers for holding a variety of different types of food. The carrier is substantially planar and has a plurality of openings formed therethrough. Each food container includes a lower wall, at least one sidewall, and an open upper end defining a rim portion formed along an upper edge of the at least one sidewall adjacent the open upper end of each container. Each food container is secured to or integral with the substantially planar carrier so that each respective rim portion projects through or above a respective one of the openings. The containers are permanently fixed to the substantially planar carrier. A plurality of covers are further provided, with each cover releasably sealing a respective open upper end of one of the plurality of food containers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/202,746, filed Mar. 31, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to food packaging and transport, andparticularly to a combination carrier and insulated food containers thatprovides a plurality of food containers that have an integral commoncarrier.

2. Description of the Related Art

Although insulating food containers are well known, conventionalcontainers typically only include a single, open interior, thus onlyproviding for the storage of a single type of food. If multiple foodsmust be stored, either multiple containers must be used, or thediffering foods must be mixed. Similarly, such conventional containersare not well adapted for storing both hot and cold foods simultaneously.

The mixing of foods may be undesirable for the user (and is notrecommended when one food is meant to be served hot and the other cold),and the carrying of multiple containers can be inconvenient. It would bedesirable to provide a food carrier for the simultaneous transport ofboth hot and cold food, or differing types of food, in a safe,convenient manner, which further lends itself to the presentation ofboth wholesome, nutritious and appetizing foods upon delivery. Thus, acombination carrier and insulated food containers solving theaforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The combination carrier and insulated food containers provides a foodstorage device, having a plurality of thermally insulated containers forholding a variety of different types of food. The carrier is preferablysubstantially planar in shape and has a plurality of openings formedtherethrough. Preferably, each opening is substantially circular.

Each food container includes a lower wall, at least one sidewall, and anopen upper end, the container defining an open interior region forreceiving food. Each container is formed from a thermal insulationmaterial, such as plastic. Each container may be configured as aconventional insulating thermos or the like. A rim portion is formedalong an upper edge of the at least one sidewall adjacent the open upperend of each container. Each food container is secured to or integralwith the substantially planar carrier so that each respective rimportion projects through or above a respective one of the openings. Thecontainers are permanently fixed to the substantially planar carrier. Aplurality of covers are further provided, with each cover releasablysealing a respective open upper end of one of the plurality of foodcontainers.

These and other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination carrier and insulated foodcontainers according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded, perspective view of the combinationcarrier and insulated food containers of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the combination carrier and insulated foodcontainers of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a combinationcarrier and insulated food containers according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 4B is a plan view of another alternative embodiment of acombination carrier and insulated food containers according to thepresent invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a combination carrier and insulatedfood containers 10. The combination carrier and insulated foodcontainers 10 provides a food storage device having a plurality ofthermally insulated containers 12 for holding a variety of differenttypes of food. The carrier 14 is preferably substantially planar and hasa plurality of openings 17 formed therethrough for access to thecontainers 12. Although shown as having substantially circular openingsdefined by annular container rims 20 (as will be described in detailbelow, with particular reference to FIG. 2), it will be understood thatopenings 17 may have any desired shape, depending upon the dimensionsand configuration of the food containers 12. Additionally, carrier 14may have any desired dimension and configuration. Preferably, carrier 14is formed from a relatively lightweight thermal insulation material,such as plastic, stainless steel or the like. An opening 18 ispreferably formed through carrier 14, providing a handle or grippingportion for the user. It should be understood that the substantiallytriangular opening in the Figures is shown for exemplary purposes only,and that the opening 18 may have any desired dimensions or contouring.

Each food container 12 includes a lower wall 15, at least one sidewall13 and an open upper end, and defines an open interior region forreceiving food. Although shown as being substantially cylindrical, itshould be understood that each container 12 may have any desireddimension and configuration. Each container 12 is formed from athermally insulated material, such as plastic, and is preferablyconfigured as a conventional insulating thermos or the like. Containers12 may be any suitable type of insulated containers, such asglass-vacuum thermos bottles, or double-wall insulated thermos bottleswith a stainless steel interior surface. As an alternative, separateglass-vacuum thermos bottles may be provided as removable andreplaceable units within permanently fixed containers 12. This wouldallow easy replacement of the thermos bottles if broken.

As best shown in FIG. 2, a container rim portion 20 is formed by anupper edge of the at least one sidewall 13 about the open upper end ofeach container 12. Each food container 12 is secured to or integral withthe substantially planar carrier 14 so that each respective rim portion20 projects above and defines respective one of the container openings17. The containers 12 are permanently fixed to the substantially planarcarrier 14. Containers 12 may be molded with carrier 14 duringmanufacture, to form a one-piece unit, or may be permanently fixedthereto via any other suitable method.

A plurality of covers 16 are further provided, with each cover 16releasably sealing a respective open upper end of one of the pluralityof food containers 12. In FIG. 2, substantially circular covers 16 areshown engaging a threaded outer surface 22 of each rim 20. It should beunderstood that covers 16 may have any dimension or configuration (e.g.,covers 16 may be snap-on square or rectangular covers, depending uponthe shape of containers 12 and corresponding rims 20), depending uponthe dimension and configuration of containers 12 and their respectiverim portions 20. Further, any suitable type of attachment for forming afluid-tight seal may be used to releasably secure covers 16 tocontainers 12. As an alternative, covers 16 may be formed havingexpansible forks or other utensils fixed therein. Such covers forthermoses and the like are known in the art and may, for example,include upper and lower cover portions, which are joined to one anotherby threaded attachment or the like, and define an interior regiontherein. The fork or other utensil is provided within this interiorregion, generally stored as two separate portions, which may be joinedtogether for use.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a first embodiment including a pair of containers12, secured to a substantially elliptical, planar carrier 14. As notedabove, carrier 14 may have any desired dimension and configuration.Further, any desired number of containers 12 may be utilized. FIG. 4Aillustrates an exemplary alternative embodiment in which four insulatedfood containers 12 are supported by a substantially rectangular orsquare, planar carrier 14. FIG. 4B illustrates another exemplaryalternative embodiment in which three such insulated food containers 12are supported by a substantially triangular planar carrier 14.Preferably, the corners of carrier 14 are rounded, as shown, for ease ofhandling by the user.

The plurality of separate containers 12 are provided so that the usercan easily transport multiple types and portions of food without thevarious types and portions of food mixing together. Because eachcontainer 12 is insulated both from the environment and from oneanother, both hot and cold foods may be transported together using thecombination carrier and insulating food containers 10. Preferably, eachcontainer 12 in a single unit 10 has identical size and shape withrespect to the other containers 12 in the unit, though it should beunderstood that the combination carrier and insulating food containers10 may be manufactured in a variety of differing sizes and shapes. Thecombination carrier and insulating food container 10 may further beprovided with a carrying bag, which is shaped and dimensioned to receivethe particularly shaped article 10 (i.e., rectangular, triangular,etc.). Such a carrying bag preferably would include an open end and acarrying handle or the like.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A combination carrier and insulated food containers, comprising: asubstantially planar carrier; a plurality of food containers, each ofthe food containers having a lower wall, at least one sidewall and anopen upper end defining a rim portion, each of the food containersextending through the carrier so that the rim portion projects above thecarrier, the rim defining an opening into the container; and a pluralityof covers releasably sealing the respective open upper end of acorresponding one of the food containers.
 2. The combination carrier andinsulated food containers as recited in claim 1, wherein said carrierhas a hole therein forming a carrying handle.
 3. The combination carrierand insulated food containers as recited in claim 1, wherein each saidfood container is permanently fixed to the substantially planar carrier.4. The combination carrier and insulated food containers as recited inclaim 1, wherein each said food container is substantially cylindrical.5. The combination carrier and insulated food containers as recited inclaim 4, wherein each said cover is substantially circular.
 6. Thecombination carrier and insulated food containers as recited in claim 5,wherein each said cover is releasably secured to a corresponding one ofsaid food containers by threaded engagement therewith.
 7. Thecombination carrier and insulated food containers as recited in claim 1,wherein said substantially planar carrier is substantially oval.
 8. Thecombination carrier and insulated food containers as recited in claim 7,wherein said plurality of food containers comprise a pair of foodcontainers respectively positioned adjacent longitudinally opposed endsof said substantially planar carrier.
 9. The combination carrier andinsulated food containers as recited in claim 1, wherein saidsubstantially planar carrier is substantially triangular.
 10. Thecombination carrier and insulated food containers as recited in claim 9,wherein said plurality of food containers comprise three food containersrespectively positioned adjacent corners of said substantially planarcarrier.
 11. The combination carrier and insulated food containers asrecited in claim 10, wherein the corners of said substantially planarcarrier are rounded.
 12. The combination carrier and insulated foodcontainers as recited in claim 1, wherein said substantially planarcarrier is substantially square.
 13. The combination carrier andinsulated food containers as recited in claim 12, wherein said pluralityof food containers comprise four food containers respectively positionedadjacent corners of said substantially planar carrier.
 14. Thecombination carrier and insulated food containers as recited in claim13, wherein the corners of said substantially planar carrier arerounded.
 15. A combination carrier and insulated food containers,comprising: a substantially planar carrier formed from a materialproviding thermal insulation, the carrier having at least one holeformed therethrough to form a carrying handle; a plurality of foodcontainers, each of the food containers having a lower wall, at leastone sidewall and an open upper end defining a rim portion, each of thefood containers extending through the carrier so that the rim portionprojects above the carrier, the rim defining an opening into the foodcontainer, each of the containers being formed from a material providingthermal insulation; and a plurality of covers releasably sealing therespective open upper end of a corresponding one of the food containers.16. The combination carrier and insulated food containers as recited inclaim 15, wherein each said food container is permanently fixed to thesubstantially planar carrier.
 17. The combination carrier and insulatedfood containers as recited in claim 15, wherein each said food containeris substantially cylindrical.
 18. The combination carrier and insulatedfood containers as recited in claim 17, wherein each said cover issubstantially circular.
 19. The combination carrier and insulated foodcontainers as recited in claim 18, wherein each said cover is releasablysecured to a corresponding one of said food containers by threadedengagement therewith.
 20. A combination carrier and insulated foodcontainers, comprising: a substantially planar carrier formed from amaterial providing thermal insulation, the carrier having at least onehole formed therethrough to form a carrying handle; a plurality of foodcontainers, each of the food containers having a lower wall, at leastone sidewall and an open upper end defining a rim portion, each of thefood containers extending through the carrier so that the rim portionprojects above the carrier, the rim defining an opening into the foodcontainer and being permanently attached to the substantially planarcarrier, each of the food containers being formed from a materialproviding thermal insulation; and a plurality of covers releasablysealing the respective open upper end of a corresponding one of the foodcontainers.